7 Reasons You Are Not Pregnant

  1.  Male infertility: one of the most common reasons for not getting pregnant. For around 40% of couples who are finding it hard to get pregnant, the cause of their infertility is sperm-related. A low sperm count or problems with the quality of spermatozoa is one of the most common reasons for not getting pregnant.

  2. Human conception requires an egg and sperm. If you're not ovulating, you won't be able to get pregnant. Anovulation is a common cause of female infertility and it can be triggered by many conditions. PCOS is one possible cause of anovulation. Other possible causes include being over or underweight, primary ovarian insufficiency, a thyroid dysfunction, hyperprolactinemia, and excessive exercise.

  3. For women after age 35, and for men after age 40, it can take longer to get pregnant. Some women assume if they still get regular periods their fertility is fine, but this isn't true. Age impacts egg quality as well as quantity. Also, if your partner is five or more years older than you are, this can further increase your risk of fertility problems after age 35.

  4. In case you don't know, the fallopian tubes are the pathway between your ovaries and the uterus. The fallopian tubes do not directly attach to the ovaries. Sperm must swim up from the cervix, through the uterus, and into the fallopian tubes. When an egg is released from the ovaries, hair-like projections from the fallopian tube draw the egg inside. Conception takes place inside the fallopian tube, where the sperm and egg finally meet. If anything prevents the fallopian tubes from working properly, or if scarring blocks the sperm or egg from meeting, you won't be able to get pregnant.

  5. Endometriosis is when endometrium-like tissue (which is the tissue that lines the uterus) grows in places outside of the uterus. It's estimated that up to 50 percent women with endometriosis will have difficulty getting pregnant.

  6. Underlying medical conditions can lead to infertility in both men and women. For example, a thyroid imbalance or undiagnosed diabetes can lead to infertility. While it's not well understood, depression is associated with infertility. Some autoimmune diseases, like lupus or undiagnosed celiac disease, can cause infertility.

  7. Between 25 to 30 percent of infertile couples never find out why they can't get pregnant. Some doctors say this is a lack of good diagnosis. They say there is no such thing as unexplained infertility but only undiscovered or undiagnosed problems. The fact remains, though, that some couples don't get answers. However, not having answers doesn't mean you can't be treated. You can (and should) still receive treatment for infertility even if your diagnosis is unexplained.